Jess Harley's Blog - Posts Tagged "character-development"
Behind the Scenes: Writing Lesbian Romance as Jess Harley by Jess Harley
If you’ve landed here, chances are you love lesbian romance as much as I do—whether it’s the slow-burn kind that makes your heart ache or the flirty, fast-paced novellas that keep you turning pages into the night. I’m Jess Harley, and I write sapphic stories full of emotional depth, yearning, and a good dash of awkward charm. Today I’m pulling back the curtain to share how I craft my lesbian romance stories—from character development to deciding whether a tale wants to be a novella or a full-length novel.
Starting With the Spark: Character First, Always
For me, writing lesbian romance always begins with the characters. I'm drawn to flawed, funny, resilient women—ones who often don’t realize how lovable they are until someone else sees it in them. I spend a lot of time building their emotional backstory before I even touch the plot. I want to know what they’re afraid of, what they secretly want, and what kind of girl might challenge everything they think they know about themselves.
Sometimes the pairing arrives fully formed in my mind: a driven career woman who’s never had time for love, and the chaotic artist who turns her world upside down. Other times, it’s slower. I play with opposites, shared history, or the tension of a missed connection—especially delicious in lesbian romance where representation of real, complex dynamics still feels so vital.
The Dance Between Novella and Novel
One of the most exciting (and challenging) parts of writing lesbian romance is deciding how long the story needs to be.
Novellas (around 20k–40k words) are perfect for high-concept, emotionally punchy love stories. I turn to this format when the premise is tight, the chemistry is instant, or the timeline is compressed—think a Christmas fling, a weekend retreat, or two rivals trapped in a snowstorm.
Novels (60k+ words) give room to explore deeper character arcs, complicated pasts, and those slow-burn relationships that simmer before they finally spark. These are great when the story involves a transformation, healing from past wounds, or when external stakes (family, careers, secrets) play a big role in the journey.
Both forms are valid and powerful. Some stories beg to be long and messy; others are short, sweet, and utterly satisfying. I don’t try to force a format. I listen to the characters, and they usually let me know.
Planning (Without Killing the Magic)
I’m a plotter at heart, but not a rigid one. I start with a basic roadmap: who these women are, what gets in their way, and how they’ll grow together. I write emotional beats more than scenes at first—moments where one character sees the other in a new light, confesses something vulnerable, or misreads a signal that leads to heartache or hilarity.
In lesbian romance, there’s also a unique intimacy in how women fall for each other—a blend of friendship, emotional mirroring, and deep empathy. I take my time to build that trust on the page.
But even with all that planning, the characters surprise me. That’s the best part.
Why Lesbian Romance?
Because we need more stories where queer women get to be messy, funny, angry, soft, ambitious, and madly in love. I write lesbian romance because I didn’t see enough of myself in the books I grew up with—and I want my stories to be a mirror and a celebration.
If you’ve read any of my books, you’ll know I adore writing slow-burn tension, awkward flirting, and emotionally layered payoffs. I love writing stories where two women truly see each other—and choose love anyway.
Thanks for reading—and if you’re a fellow lesbian romance writer (or reader!), I’d love to hear about your favorite tropes or what draws you to this genre. Let’s celebrate sapphic stories together.
– Jess Harley Instagram / TikTok @JessHarleyx
Starting With the Spark: Character First, Always
For me, writing lesbian romance always begins with the characters. I'm drawn to flawed, funny, resilient women—ones who often don’t realize how lovable they are until someone else sees it in them. I spend a lot of time building their emotional backstory before I even touch the plot. I want to know what they’re afraid of, what they secretly want, and what kind of girl might challenge everything they think they know about themselves.
Sometimes the pairing arrives fully formed in my mind: a driven career woman who’s never had time for love, and the chaotic artist who turns her world upside down. Other times, it’s slower. I play with opposites, shared history, or the tension of a missed connection—especially delicious in lesbian romance where representation of real, complex dynamics still feels so vital.
The Dance Between Novella and Novel
One of the most exciting (and challenging) parts of writing lesbian romance is deciding how long the story needs to be.
Novellas (around 20k–40k words) are perfect for high-concept, emotionally punchy love stories. I turn to this format when the premise is tight, the chemistry is instant, or the timeline is compressed—think a Christmas fling, a weekend retreat, or two rivals trapped in a snowstorm.
Novels (60k+ words) give room to explore deeper character arcs, complicated pasts, and those slow-burn relationships that simmer before they finally spark. These are great when the story involves a transformation, healing from past wounds, or when external stakes (family, careers, secrets) play a big role in the journey.
Both forms are valid and powerful. Some stories beg to be long and messy; others are short, sweet, and utterly satisfying. I don’t try to force a format. I listen to the characters, and they usually let me know.
Planning (Without Killing the Magic)
I’m a plotter at heart, but not a rigid one. I start with a basic roadmap: who these women are, what gets in their way, and how they’ll grow together. I write emotional beats more than scenes at first—moments where one character sees the other in a new light, confesses something vulnerable, or misreads a signal that leads to heartache or hilarity.
In lesbian romance, there’s also a unique intimacy in how women fall for each other—a blend of friendship, emotional mirroring, and deep empathy. I take my time to build that trust on the page.
But even with all that planning, the characters surprise me. That’s the best part.
Why Lesbian Romance?
Because we need more stories where queer women get to be messy, funny, angry, soft, ambitious, and madly in love. I write lesbian romance because I didn’t see enough of myself in the books I grew up with—and I want my stories to be a mirror and a celebration.
If you’ve read any of my books, you’ll know I adore writing slow-burn tension, awkward flirting, and emotionally layered payoffs. I love writing stories where two women truly see each other—and choose love anyway.
Thanks for reading—and if you’re a fellow lesbian romance writer (or reader!), I’d love to hear about your favorite tropes or what draws you to this genre. Let’s celebrate sapphic stories together.
– Jess Harley Instagram / TikTok @JessHarleyx
